Wednesday, September 24, 2014

Back on Track

Hello my lovelies,
Well things have been busy busy here. I am afraid that between unpacking, school starting, family visits, and birthday party planing (I have two fall babies); writing on the blog has fallen to the wayside. 
Now that things have calmed down a bit I am working on finding time to do my sewing and knitting (the knitting is easy because I can take it with me). First thing I had to do, however, was bring everything out from the basement and put it back in my craft room. I can't remember if I mentioned it, but I had to vacate our "mother-in-law" apartment for the summer so our friend/house sitter had some where to stay. 
It took me a couple of weeks, but I now have everything reorganized and ready for me to make.

Why yes, that is yarn in the freezer. We had a small moth infestation a few months ago and I read that freezing the eggs for 3 days would kill them. It has become the place for my good yarn and fiber.
After all the packing and unpacking of my things I have decided I have too much. I know, you can never have too much fabric, yarn, or fiber. Well, I do, and since I am now dreaming of a spinning wheel I need to make sure I have the space and time for it. And that is where you, my dear people, come in. 
I am of a certain type of personality the requires outside forces to get me motivated, unless it is something that I am OCDing over. So, between you and the spinning wheel I am hoping to make a small dent in both of my stashes. 
In order to earn my spinning wheel I must:
make 5 quilts (2 king, 3 twin)
2 skirts
3 pj bottoms (1 for boy, 1 for girl, and 1 for me)
and 1 dress (for girl)
Since I already have all the fabric I need for these (and then some), there is no worry of inadvertently adding to my stash.
The first quilt is already partially cut out. I have been working on it on and off for over a year already and it needs to be finished.

The pattern its self is pretty simple. My main difficulty with it has been the adjustments I have made. The pattern is for queen size quilt and we have a cal king bed. I also wanted to use this amazing fat quarter pack I had bought forever ago. Over the years I have been collecting different Japanese style fabrics that I thought would go well with print of the women. As I work on it I will let you know how it goes.
In the knitting department I need to make:
3 shawls (for sisters and niece)
1 sweater (for girl)
2 ponchos (1 for girl, 1 for me)
5 hats (3 boy, 2 men)
The first shawl is half way done. It is for me sister's birthday next week. I have been putting it off because of the 311 stitches that needed to be picked up and the bobbles (I have never done bobbles).
I know it will turn out amazing. And I will happily give you more details once I send it off to her (probably late). 
I am hoping to get all of these projects done before Stitches West 2015, where I plan on purchasing my spinning wheel. 
Wish me luck and I will try to keep you posted,
XO
Luelue Ellabee